In his acceptance speech at the summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Lourenço said that peace and security are indispensable for the realization of the continent’s development aspirations.

The Angolan president added that he intended to launch a vast plan to attract investments and important financial resources, for which the African Union will lay the foundations and define the infrastructure projects to be executed.

He highlighted the contribution that Angola can make to development by making available the surplus energy it produces, in addition to projects such as the Lobito Corridor, which together with Tanzania’s Iron Ore Tanks Trail could boost interconnection between the countries and the promotion of trade within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“The strategic lines of the Angolan presidency are aligned, in general terms, with the priority actions defined at continental level, in the framework of the acceleration of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of 2063 Agenda corresponding to the period from 2024 to 2033,” said Lourenço.

He detailed that this is focused on transport infrastructure and connectivity; energy and natural resources; peace and security; agriculture and blue economy; continental integration and free trade zone; education and training, and strategic alliances.

He recalled that the continent also faces the challenges related to disasters derived from climate change, as well as the epidemic outbreaks of Marburg, Ebola, Mpox and cholera, which cyclically affect the continent and force us to work together in solidarity to find collective solutions.

“We are fully convinced that if we join forces we can overcome these great challenges and build the Africa we dream of, with an increasingly active voice in approaching the great problems that afflict humanity,” he assured.

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